Phyllis Christopher, Heads and Tails, Grand
Union

Loop, Eastside Projects

Phyllis Christopher is an American artist who uses film cameras and Super8 video cameras to document her experiences of queer and lesbian pleasure, sexual freedom and positivity and political movements and protests.

This was my first visit to Grand Union, and this exhibition sparked my interest, especially the documentation of lesbian joy, due to identifying as bisexual myself, and being very interested in the female experience.

Film photographs always feel more special to me, most likely due to never having owned a film camera myself, and instead using an iPhone camera to document moments. Film photographs come across as more personal and tactile. Seeing the tests and scraps of Christopher's pictures definitely made me feel this way.

The exhibition at Eastside Projects was called Loop, and was based on performance, "defined by the body, the floor, the walls, the sound, the sensors, the womb, the book, by whirling, by dancing with nature, and by trying to position these practices in the loop of history." (from the Eastside 'Loop" page).

By entering the space, you become prt of the performance. It is impossible to not participate, which I think gets across that by living your life, you are automatically performing.

I was not as engrossed in this exhibition, perhaps because of the lack of information I had whilst in it, but reading up on it now, I see the meanings behind it and feel more connected to the subject.